GRAND FORKS, N.D.-- Recent St. Cloud State University graduate Dayna Nellis has been hired at the University of North Dakota to fill out new head coach Chris Maiello's staff. She joins Anthony Harris, who is in his second season, as assistant coaches on the staff along with head diving coach Brian Strom.

"It is with great excitement that we welcome coach Dayna Nellis to our program," coach Maiello said. "Dayna’s passion for the sport, work ethic and willingness to learn has set her apart as a great young coach. Her ties to upper midwest intercollegiate swimming will help our program in recruiting and competition. We are fortunate that Dayna has chosen UND to start her coaching career."

Nellis graduated from St. Cloud State University this past May after completing a successful career as a student-athlete for the Huskies. As a senior, Nellis etched her name into the top five of SCSU's top times in six different events, including the top time in the 200 butterfly (2:07.85). She also swam middle and distance freestyle events for the Huskies, breaking three school records in her career: 200 fly, 1000 free and 1650 free.

She has coached at Granite City Aquatics, working with swimmers of all ages in the St. Cloud, Minn., region. Nellis has also been a counselor and coach for an International Swim Camp in Stanford, Calif., each of the past two summers. Her past experience also included lifeguarding and swim instructing at the YWCA and UW-Green Bay from 2006-2011.

Nellis earned her bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders from SCSU with a 3.41 grade point average.